Much to the dismay of the show’s loyal followers, The Unit was cancelled by CBS in May. The series’ viewership had declined in its later years but, despite being preempted several times, still attracted 9.67 million viewers in season four.
The Unit was supposedly being seriously considered to continue in first-run syndication but the deal didn’t work out, likely because of production costs. Sadly, while the military drama and Dennis Haysbert, Regina Taylor, Robert Patrick, and Scott Foley will be around in syndication for years to come, we won’t be seeing season five of The Unit.
It turns out that the writers had a full plan for year five which Executive Producer Shawn Ryan was expecting to be the show’s last. He pitched the storyline ideas to the CBS execs but ultimately they weren’t interested.
At the recent TCA press tour, Ryan shared with The Futon Critic what would have happened. He said, “It was going to be a whole new show in the sense that we were going to be training some young people, Bob was going to be training some people for a whole new organization. Jonas was finally going to be seeing his run end.”
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Ryan continued, “The final season was going to be, I figured the fifth season was going to be the last… It was going to be a long, sort of final mission for Jonas. He’s not medically cleared, Mac has to go in and sort of change the medical records so that Jonas can keep on [going on missions]. We had a whole thing planned, it was going to be good.”
Of the cancellation, Ryan points to CBS’ last-minute decision to save NBC’s discarded Medium series. If things had been reversed and The Unit “had been owned by Paramount and Medium had been owned by 20th Century Fox, we’d be making the fifth season of The Unit right now. I don’t know how else to say that.”
What do you think? Do the plans for season five sound like a good way for the military drama to finish?
Image courtesy CBS.
This is what really comes to mind there are shows and there are shows. the thing is the people finally can relate to something that they like, to some is a life of what they have been through. to those who have served in the military service, or any type of law enforcement. the people are right, wouldn’t you like to have very good ratings, that brings in more money. Or just to some just another show that comes and goes. try and see it for what it is . the show that has a serious side, a side that… Read more »
I just watched The Unit for the first time, and I LOVE IT!!! It is disgusting to me that CBS would Pay charlie sheen millions of dollars an episode for that stupid show that has no substance, but would cancel a show that sheds light on the sacrifices our Military Men and Their Families face everyday. You want to know what is wrong with America? We focus too much time and money on worthless stuff (Charlie sheen, the Kardashians, celebrity rehab, anything on MTV or VH1) and not support the Men and Women who sacrifice for our Freedom. The Unit… Read more »
I want the unit to come back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It didn’t have a proper ending and left destitute. NOT FAIR!!!
The note on the bottom of this page says that this post is over a year and a half old, and there are still people to this day who want it to come back. How can CBS justify all the big budget horrible shows they continue to pay for and tells us that the production costs for The Unit are just too much. I bet if the creators put CSI or NCIS infront of the shows title they would be willing to pay for it, I mean seriously how many more cities can you use for one show.
Please bring it back you can not expect us to watch 100s of hours watching this great show that was created and not give us a proper ending. It’s like watching a really good movie at home then your power goes out half way though and then you miss the whole movie. That is not what the entertainment business is all about. Be realistic here CBS. Please take note of what everyone is writing and please let them have the proper ending
I keep reading all over the web about how everyone wants to have The Unit back! I wish they would! If nothing else but to give it a real ending and to put it to rest! I love this show, I have all 4 seasons and watch them more than anything! I wish there was more we could to to make some sort of meaningful official appeal to CBS. 🙁
they are all the same.. after milking the cow for sometime they now drop the cow and leave. it had been a good show and entertainment but they just dont have the guts to give the show it deserves. too bad.
Along with others, there isn’t a episode of the unit that I did not see. This show was great and a cancelation has seriously disappointed me, no matter what the plans were for season five I believe in the writer n crew that it would of been as good if not better than the other seasons and they should seriously consider doing this last season for the fans. There is no other show that is like this one and we want it back please help us!
The fans!
they can never b a show lyk the unit please bring the show back
Come on. It should be release. Seriously, lousy decision made. A show that is so popular and it is going to be cut off without a proper ending, worth it? Filmed for years, populating so much, in the end… what is this? Come on. Wake up your idea.
I wish they would bring The Unit back on any station. I think it would be a boost to any network that took it on. Great cast and writers, never boring !
I think its ridiculous that CBS has decided to cancel season 5 of the unit. The end of season 4 doesn’t make any sense without some sort of ending (such as a season 5). i think its the biggest mistake CBS has ever made and I’m surprised someone hasn’t been fired for it.
I agree 100% with Andy and Deb please do something to give The Unit the proper ending it diserved.
Could you guys do a 2 hour reunion show, just to wrap it all up for us….
I just want MORE OF THE UNIT!!!
The series was awesome and I hated to see it cancelled.
I never missed an episode of this great series… I love The Unit! I got very disappointed when it was canceled.. I watch all 4 seasons many many times over.. Please bring it back! All other shows are boring! Even movies become boring. I don’t even want to watch any other different special forces or warlike movie or show, nothing can be compared to The Unit !